Congolese Troops On Rampage

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29728, 23 January 1962, Page 16

Congolese Troops On Rampage

(N Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) ELISABETHVILLE, January 22. Rebellious Congolese Army troops moving through Northern Katanga have burned villages and massacred men, women and children, a Government communique said yesterday.

The communique said Katangeee forces had repulsed the troops when they attempted to move into the Kilwa area only 180 miles north of Elisabetbville.

One area, Kiona-Ngoy, had been entirely destroyed, with men, women, and children massacred and houses pillaged. Usually reliable sources said two Congolese Army companies had left Kongola in Northern Katanga on Friday to attack a mission and village at Bulua 20 miles east.

There have a .so been reports in the last two days of other Congolese attacks in Northern Katanga. Aircraft Reconnaissance

Two United Nations Canberra jet fighter-bombers yesterday made another reconnaissance over Sola where a Roman Catholic mission is feared overrun t. mutinous Congolese troops. On Saturday morning a company of rebel troops near Kongolo—’the scene of a reported massacre of 19 priests on New Year's lay—opened fire on the Canberras.

The Bishop of Kasongo, in Kivu Province (Monsignor Cleire) said: "It is possible that the fathers and the Franciscan sisters at Sola fled before the arrival of the soldiers.”

Aerial reconnaissance on Friday confirmed a Red Cross report that the Congolese troops had attached the mission at Sola. Military lorries were sighted in the grounds and soldiers were seen fleeing into the church. Monsignor Cleire. who is at present in Leopoldville, said there were usually two cars at the mission in which the six priests and about seven sisters could have escaped to Albertville on Lake Tanganyika. r "But we have had no confirmation that they left or arrived in Albertville,” he said. "All we can do now is hope that after the New Year’s Day massacre they took heed and left.

“They may also have left earlier when told about the advance of troops,” he said. Kasongo is just across the border in Kivu, halfway between Kongolo and Kindu—both scenes of massacres.